03-28-2008, 04:01 PM
What many fail to realize is that the health and safety issues is not the issue. The issue is that charter schools do not receive even a penny for facility improvements while public schools receive around a $1,000 a year per student for facilities.
No one involved said these three facilities don’t need to meet health and safety requirements. As recipients of federal funds they are required to do so. Under federal law, DOE public schools are allowed to develop and implement a plan to bring their schools up to standards, including the Americans with Disability Act. They also receive federal funds to do so. Charter schools are barred from using any money for facility improvements. WOL was heavily penalized for using funds to improve their Ala Loop facility even though they received no reply after repeatedly asking the State for guidance.
I’ve been to all three homes, and all 3 are permitted structures. In Hawaii County, according to Chris Yuen, all 3 structures could have an unlimited number of family members living inside. They could have 30 or more kids living there every day as long as they are related—cousins. They are not permitted as commercial structures. The county isn’t likely to give you commercial permits, because they require county water, electricity and a slew of other commercial requirements, such as a commercial kitchen, commercial doors and locks, and a ton more. But remember, they can’t spend any money they receive to do the improvements legally.
All three owners were willing to do the improvements for health and safety. They went to the County for all the requirements. Unlike the federal government, the County says they have to cease and desist until they have achieved all the requirements, but won't tell you what they are,they just tell you to hire a commercial architect.
In addition, with over 45,000 residents there is no suitable vacant land. I know because Chris Yuen agreed. Almost all of Puna is zoned state lands Ag, which bars schools. I’ve read all of the Puna Development Plans, and the HPP plan over the past 25 years and they all say the same thing: The community needs suitable zoning for schools and other commercial uses. But it has never gotten it. It appears the county ends at Hilo. And outside of Puna, there is a lot more suitable land but it’s very expensive and not realistic for Puna residents.
Why are they so tough? It’s a good question. I asked Chris Yuen and he said the State is forcing his hand. Why? I also learned (not from Chris) that for each student in a charter school costs the DOE nearly $10,000 right out of their budget. When you see that public education is declining and charter schools are increasing in enrollment you don’t have to be a genius to see the reason.
In Keaau High, my daughter had MTV all day for social studies all day and year and I never saw her teacher on my 3 visits but I did see a lot of sex (MTV) and actual drug use. Her teachers smoked pot in school as well - interesting lessons. We shifted her and my oldest son through several public and private schools and they were all the pits. I was a certified Sub, and several teachers warned me what I was getting into. I had no idea how pathetic our Public schools are but I guess that's why they are at the bottom of the 50 states. $10-$12K a year and they literally suck. My daughter graduated from HAAS and is doing great in UH. You want to know how to run a school, ask Steve Hirakami - he's terrific and runs circles around the public school administrators, so they will probably shut him down. God bless you Steve!
-Puna Haku
No one involved said these three facilities don’t need to meet health and safety requirements. As recipients of federal funds they are required to do so. Under federal law, DOE public schools are allowed to develop and implement a plan to bring their schools up to standards, including the Americans with Disability Act. They also receive federal funds to do so. Charter schools are barred from using any money for facility improvements. WOL was heavily penalized for using funds to improve their Ala Loop facility even though they received no reply after repeatedly asking the State for guidance.
I’ve been to all three homes, and all 3 are permitted structures. In Hawaii County, according to Chris Yuen, all 3 structures could have an unlimited number of family members living inside. They could have 30 or more kids living there every day as long as they are related—cousins. They are not permitted as commercial structures. The county isn’t likely to give you commercial permits, because they require county water, electricity and a slew of other commercial requirements, such as a commercial kitchen, commercial doors and locks, and a ton more. But remember, they can’t spend any money they receive to do the improvements legally.
All three owners were willing to do the improvements for health and safety. They went to the County for all the requirements. Unlike the federal government, the County says they have to cease and desist until they have achieved all the requirements, but won't tell you what they are,they just tell you to hire a commercial architect.
In addition, with over 45,000 residents there is no suitable vacant land. I know because Chris Yuen agreed. Almost all of Puna is zoned state lands Ag, which bars schools. I’ve read all of the Puna Development Plans, and the HPP plan over the past 25 years and they all say the same thing: The community needs suitable zoning for schools and other commercial uses. But it has never gotten it. It appears the county ends at Hilo. And outside of Puna, there is a lot more suitable land but it’s very expensive and not realistic for Puna residents.
Why are they so tough? It’s a good question. I asked Chris Yuen and he said the State is forcing his hand. Why? I also learned (not from Chris) that for each student in a charter school costs the DOE nearly $10,000 right out of their budget. When you see that public education is declining and charter schools are increasing in enrollment you don’t have to be a genius to see the reason.
In Keaau High, my daughter had MTV all day for social studies all day and year and I never saw her teacher on my 3 visits but I did see a lot of sex (MTV) and actual drug use. Her teachers smoked pot in school as well - interesting lessons. We shifted her and my oldest son through several public and private schools and they were all the pits. I was a certified Sub, and several teachers warned me what I was getting into. I had no idea how pathetic our Public schools are but I guess that's why they are at the bottom of the 50 states. $10-$12K a year and they literally suck. My daughter graduated from HAAS and is doing great in UH. You want to know how to run a school, ask Steve Hirakami - he's terrific and runs circles around the public school administrators, so they will probably shut him down. God bless you Steve!
-Puna Haku
-Puna Haku